The Butler Transit Authority's (BTA) Intermodal Transit Center is under construction at the former Pullman Standard site.

The transit facility is being built by Uhl Construction with a completion date scheduled for late fall.

BTA is proud to have local companies such as the Fuellgraf Electric, Dubrook, Lloyd Johnson, Western PA Geothermal Heating and Cooling, and others involved in the infrastructure improvement for Butler's present and future.

BTA's transit center will house the Butler Transit Authority's offices, the Butler Area Rural Transit's (BART) offices and the Medical Transportation Assistance Program's (MTAP) offices. The integration of the locations of these three agencies will help better serve the transportation needs of the community.

Phase I of the facility will also encompass a maintenance/wash bay building and storage for BTA and BART buses.

The bus terminal at 113 E. Cunningham St. will remain open when the new facility is completed. The Transit Authority recognizes the importance of the downtown bus terminal to customers living in and around town and will not be closing it.

As the first "green" LEED-certified transit facility in Pennsylvania, BTA's facility will use geothermal heating and cooling as well as other environmental-friendly principals that will reduce the authority's energy costs by 50 percent.

In addition to the Transit Center, BTA continues to strive at improving the bus system and the convenience for customers.

BTA recently had its buses outfitted with smart bus equipment. The equipment will help BTA make schedule changes based on frequency of stops being used. It also includes voice enunciators announcing the stops and electronic head signs displaying the stop.

Customers can also get real time data regarding bus status at the Transit Authority's Web site.

The downtown terminal is also providing customers with more information as electronic signage gives them real time information on each bus' location and estimated arrival time.

BTA is regularly updating its Web site with the construction progress as well as information on other projects.

To stay up to date with BTA, visit the Authority's Web site at www.butlertransitauthority.com.